INNERSPACE

then to bother and annoy.

OUTSIDE

- Suddenly a thought occurs to Joe. He sits up and speaks loudly.

JOE

Hey...You forgot something.

The lady in the seat next to him has forgotten nothing, is

startled by Joe, looks at him uneasily...He indicates he was

talking to Cary Grant on the screen. Speaks under his breath.

JOE

They'll know who I am.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL

We'll change your appearance.

INT. PLANE LAVORATORY - MIRROR - Joe combs his hair differently.

JOE

It's just not enough.

AL (VO)

It's attitude...how you carry

yourself.

JOE

What's wrong with how I carry myself.

AL (VO)

Nothing, but it's yours. Change it.

Change your whole persona.

JOE

Oh yeah, to what?

AL (VO)

You'll be me.

JOE

I don't want to be you. I don't even

like you, why would I want to be you?

AL

Because you got my ID. Now

brace yourself. I'm gonna try

something with your glands.

JOE

You leave my glands alone!

A KNOCK ON THE DOOR - Joe yelps in alarm.

STEWARDESS (VO)

Are you alright in there?

JOE

Fine...fine.

As he says that, he looks in the mirror: his face starts to

change form...the tissues in his cheeks swell just a bit.

-- a subtle but startling change...not enough to fool a close

friend but enough enough to fool a casual glance.

GOTO - KUJUKUSHIMA -

An incredibly beautiful tropical island on

Japan's South Pacific coast. Joe crashes through the shoreline.

JOE

Now what?

AL (VO)

The beach.

JOE

The beach?

AL (VO)

How else do you get seaweed

under your nails?

JOE

Eating sushi?

AL (VO)

Just get there.

EXT. DAY

Joe emerges from the jungle onto a pristine, lovely

beach. Other small, pine covered islands dot the sparkling sea.

JOE

Holy shit!

AL (VO)

What is it?

JOE

...Just beautiful.

He runs down to the shoreline, excited.

AL (VO)

Do you notice anything.

JOE

The sky, the sun, the sea...

There's no one here.

It's deserted. What now?

AL (VO)

Swim.

JOE

Good Idea!

He tears off his clothes, charges into the surf. He pulls out into the lagoon.

INSIDE INT. THE POD

AL monitors Joe's exertion.

AL (VO)

Take it easy, now. Don't want

you in over your head.

JOE

Little late for that.

He takes a breath and dives.

UNDERWATER - JOE swims through submarine grottos grabbing

bunches of seaweed. He surfaces, pulls for the shore. He stumbles

up the beach covered with seaweed.

JOE

Here...all the seaweed you want.

Now, what?

AL (VO)

You eat it.

JOE

You eat it. You know what this stuff tastes like?

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

I'm living on freeze dried

limas and ham. Just eat it.

OUTSIDE

Chastised, Joe considers the seaweed, then stuffs some

of it in his mouth.

JOE

Now what?

AL (VO)

The sand.

JOE

Eat it?

AL (VO)

Eat it.

JOE (VO)

I don't want to eat it.

AL (VO)

Why not?

JOE

It's sand.

AL (VO)

For chrissakes, it's only sand. You

should see some of the stuff that's

floating around in here. That sand's

the cleanest thing in you, including

me. Now EAT it!

OUTSIDE

Joe puts some on his tongue, makes a face.

AL (VO)

Now lie down somewhere quiet and

rest, I'll be back in a while.

JOE

Where are you going? Wait!

But Al is gone.

INSIDE EXT. THE POD

AL powers through the throat region to his

palate...He ZOOMS through what look like floating gardens -

microscopic bits of seaweed, big as the Hindenberg to Al.

INSIDE INT. THE POD

AL compares the seaweed and silicon structures.

AL

It matches.

OUTSIDE

Joe looks around the deserted beach.

JOE

Good. Now what?

INSIDE INT. THE POD -

AL, for once, doesn't know what to say.

THE BEACH - SUNSET

Joe wakes, finds himself alone. In the

distance a figure runs down the beach toward him. He can't make

it out too well in the backlight. It gets closer...It becomes

clear: an incredibly beautiful girl in a bikini - RENE.

JOE

Al, are you doing anything in there?

AL (VO)

What? What do you mean?

JOE

Are you screwing with any nerves?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

- busy working at DATABASES, glances

nervously at his elapsed time digital clock...44 hours gone.

AL (VO) (brusque)

What are you talking about?

OUTSIDE -

Joe shades his eyes. He sees her clearly. She is the

most beautiful girl he's ever seen. She notices him.

JOE

My god...She's real!

She flashes a shy smile as she lopes by. He sits up.

AL (VO) (exited)

Your heartrate went up.

What is it?

JOE

Beautiful!

AL (VO)

What was?

JOE

A girl.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

Al

Never mind that. Get back to business.

OUTSIDE - Joe is just stunned by the receding image of beauty.

JOE

This must be business,

there's nothing else here.

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL

Follow it.

OUTSIDE - he takes off after her, down the beach.

JOE

Good idea!

THE GIRL - She runs fast and easy. Perfect body in perfect

shape. She runs up, over the rocks on the headland. The sun

glimmers through pine covered islets across the lagoon.

JOE - He starts off fast and quickly slows.

INSIDE INT. THE POD

AL monitors Joe's body.

AL (VO)

What is it?

OUTSIDE - JOE

- straining. Far ahead, she glances back.

JOE

She's...pretty fast.

AL (VO)

You're out of shape.

Joe is half dead. He may not catch her at all.

INSIDE INT. THE POD -

AL stimulates his brain, releasing an

organic speedlike chemical...His fatigue drops away, oxygen

conversion increases...

Al

Catch up to her.

Joe

That's what I'm trying..

...Hey, what's going on?

JOE - GOING SO FAST he seems ready to explode. He burns right up to her

like she's standing still. Surprised, she stumbles. He slows, matches stride with her.

He GASPS:

AL (VO)

What is it?

JOE

She's beautiful...!

What do I do?

INSIDE - INT. THE POD

AL ponders...

AL

Tell her.

OUTSIDE -

Joe is starting to pant...He looks a little crazed.

She's starting to wonder about this guy. She keeps running.

JOE

You're beautiful..

AL (VO)

What's happening?

JOE

She doesn't seem to understand.

AL (VO)

Try another language.

JOE

Which language?

INSIDE - INT. THE POD - AL

AL

How should I know?

OUTSIDE - She watches Joe curiously.

JOE

Vous etes tres beau.

RENE (she laughs)

Thanks, you're handsome too.

JOE

Now what?

She looks at him strangely... Is he some weirdo?

JOE

Help me out, will you?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

What can I do? You're on your own.

RENE

How can I help you?

JOE (answers them both)

Tell me what to say.

She starts to turn away, Joe panics.

JOE

Wait. Don't go...There's..more!

GIRL (turns back, half amused)

More?

An awkward silence.

JOE

What do I do?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL -

AL (VO)

Don't just stand there, say something.

JOE

What?

AL (VO)

Anything. Aw hell...Just tell

her the truth.

OUTSIDE - RENE

RENE

What do you do about what?

JOE

...I'm looking for someone.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Not that truth!

OUTSIDE - THE GIRL

RENE

Aren't we all.

JOE

Come on...it's going to take

two of us to make this work.

The girl looks at him curiously.

JOE

...at least two.

Now she is confused.

RENE

Is someone else here?

JOE

No. No one to speak of.

RENE

I am confused. Or maybe it's you.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL is ripping through data banks.

AL (VO)

How about a quotation...? A poet...Blake!

OUTSIDE - Joe is babbling.

JOE

...Blake

RENE

Blake?

JOE

The poet...something he said...

RENE

Yes?

Joe looks at her helplessly.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL finally finds the quotation...

AL (VO)

.

JOE

.

RENE

Blake said that?

JOE

Yeah. One of the corniest lines

I ever heard.

AL (VO)

Sorry...

RENE

It'll remind me of you.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL

Works like a charm when I use it.

You didn't say it right.

OUTSIDE -

JOE

You won't need to be reminded.

RENE

Why not?

JOE

I'll be right there.

RENE

Where?

JOE

Dinner...tonight.

RENE

Oh...I can't. Business.

She turns to go.

AL (VO)

Wait.

JOE

Wait.

She turns back.

AL (VO)

Where is she staying?

JOE

Where are you staying?

RENE

Right here.

UP THE BEACH - AN EXCLUSIVE HOTEL - set back among the trees.

RENE

And you.

JOE

...right here too.

RENE

Haven't seen you around.

She's pulling away.

JOE

I just got here. (to Al)

She's getting away.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL - an idea:

AL (VO)

Touch her.

OUTSIDE - JOE

JOE

What?

AL (VO)

Touch some part of her body.

Trust me. It works.

She slows to a walk. Joe joins her. He looks at her body...Up

and down. She sees him looking at her.

JOE (confused)

What part?

AL (VO)

Doesn't matter.

RENE

What part what?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL

The best part. She'll love it.

OUTSIDE - Her body. Then Joe's face.

JOE

I can't do that?

RENE

Do what?

JOE

Let you leave without it.

RENE

Without what?

He grabs her hand, she is startled, pulls back, He kisses

it...her hand. She flinches, then breaks into laughter.

RENE

I've seen that before.

Never had anyone actually do it.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Do what? What'd you do?

OUTSIDE - JOE

JOE

I saw it in a movie.

AL (VO)

Saw what?!

RENE

What is your name?

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

Don't give her your name.

Joe is dumbstruck for a moment.

JOE

...Joe.

INSIDE INT. THE POD - AL

AL (VO)

No...you idiot!

OUTSIDE - She holds half a crooked smile as she measures him.

JOE

Or better yet,...Al.

She starts giggling.

JOE

What's so funny?

RENE

Nothing...Al. Why do you talk that way?

JOE

What way?

RENE

Like there's someone else here.

Joe has lost it. Al is mumbling hints and encouragements into

his ear. Joe starts to babble. It starts off as bullshit, but

gradually his sincerity becomes endearing.

JOE

It's...all the sun...No...

its the beach...The light....

and the water...

RENE (kidding)

I know...the flowers, the air...

JOE

Naw...It's just you.

She smiles, turns, runs up the beach.

JOE

Wait. What's your name?